Welcome to Heathrow!

The next two days were to be super intensive. It wasn’t only the lectures I was scheduled to give (six in the two days of the weekend) but the questions and discussions that went on around and after the lectures.

One of the highlights of the whole conference was being able to help answer the questions of young Canadian lady Jenny, and being part her journey to Islam, which she accepted on Sunday evening, taking her Shahaada right up on the front stage, and even amazingly courageously giving a small speech to thank all those who had helped her on her journey!
She had some quite detailed questions about the origins of Christianity and the Bible and Quran, which is an area of some speciality for me, so it was great to be able to put that knowledge to some good use.

The other highlight of the whole conference had to be the talk by a sister from Chechnya who’s husband Yahyaer Ibrahim was virtually paralysed and was receiving treatment in hospital in Winnipeg. One of my talks on Saturday was about the “Forgotten Muslims of Chechnya”. I went through a brief summery of the over three hundred years Chechen resistance to Russian rule, and a brief outline of the present conflict and a summery of the terrible abuses going on right now.

Then the sister from Chechnya started to give some detailed descriptions of things that she actually saw and experienced first hand. It had many in tears. She couldn’t speak English, so her whole presentation was translated from Russian. Perhaps one of the most moving things she said was when she was asked how she managed to get films and documents about these abuses out of the country. One could see her shyness as she was explaining how she had to hide those things under her clothes to get past the border controls, but she said, “We were not afraid! We are born to die!”

Wow! What a statement. If the men of this Muslim nation were like this woman of the Chechens, the world would be a different place!

On Sunday she came with her husband and they showed us some of the pictures they had taken, and I sat with Ibrahim and took notes as he explained about the conflict.

It really was humbling meeting people who have suffered so much, and are so determined to continue the struggle in any way that they could.

There are so many brothers and sisters who deserve a mention, and without doubt among them are some of the most wonderful people I have met in Canada, and have made a lasting impression on me. They have a saying for Manitoba. "Friendly Manitoba", and I was certainly made to feel that way. I can’t of course forget to mentioned our paramedic friend from Israel who sat in on virtually the whole conference, and interacted with everyone and is just so close to accepting Islam. May Allah guide him the rest of the way! And Omer the khateeb, with low slung ripped jeans! Only in North America! 
I was particularity glad to be able to give a lecture on "Youth and Marriage", as this is an area that has occupied my thoughts for quite sometime. In fact it was my visits to Canada many years ago that started me thinking about the momentous challenge of saving our youth in a highly sexualised society, and how the advice of the Prophet on marriage was so relevant. Yet there is such resistance from the “culture” of many Muslims to get married young.

This proved a “hot topic”, and the debate continued on Sunday night when I was invited to dinner at the house of a Libyan brother who had completely traditional ideas, yet his fifteen year old son was admitting that most of his Muslim friends had girlfriends. The whole girlfriend boyfriend scenario is such a destructive and sad way to live, that runs roughshod over the deepest of emotions. Yet for most, abstinence is just not an option. Parents have to think deeply and try to understand the sort of extreme pressures their kids are under. It’s all connected to another one of my lectures “The Importance of Dawa.” Either you are calling, or someone is calling you. Either you are giving Dawa, or dawa is being given to you!

It was late Sunday night by the time I got to bed, and sleep was no more that a few hours. I had to pack and then headed of for an early farewell breakfast. After that it was off to the airport. I was sad, af course to leave so many kind and nice people, but I hope I had left others with some thoughts on marriage, Dawa, the nature of Islam and Muslims living together in multi cultural societies and what that means in terms of the future relationships between the Islamic world and the West. I certainly am still thinking even harder about these and other issues of concern to us all.

When I got to Toronto airport I had to report to Immigration, and lo and behold, who greeted me but the same officer who had done the “interview”. He seemed genuinely happy to see me.

“I’m glad that for once giving someone the benefit of the doubt was the right thing to do!” He said.

That pleased me no end.

“You see, people can live together in peace, like we do here in Canada!” He said, smiling proudly.

“You are of course, absolutely right!” I affirmed.

Still, I needed to be escorted to the aircraft by another Federal Officer, but it was all done with great discretion.

There was one last thing, and I really wasn’t expecting this!

A reception at Heathrow.

Two extremely polite gentlemen were waiting for me at the passport desk. I was ushered into a small room and offered a cup of tea quite a few times, and eventually accepted.

These two gentlemen, unlike their Canadian counterparts, knew exactly what they were talking about. They seemed very concerned that they treated me better than the Canadians, and I have to give it to them, they did! The interview was no more than an hour, although they were more thorough in copying the contacts from my mobile phone and making copies of all the papers in my baggage (mostly notes from my lectures) and wallet . And their interview technique was certainly different.

One gentleman, very tall, white and very English with a tinge of northern accent (I think) began by asking me how I became Muslim, and seemed very sympathetic to the feelings of Muslims over Iraq and Palestine and what did I think of it? Of course I agreed that there was anger, and sadness over so much hypocrisy, but that of course, didn’t justify blowing up women and children. We have many peaceful means to make our voice heard and have out point of view taken note of. We should use those.

The second gentleman, shorter, seemed to be Asian, might even have been Muslim, but I couldn’t quite make out. He smiled a lot, and sooo politely apologised when I asked about his faith, he couldn’t tell me anything about himself!

Of course they asked me about my activities in Canada, and we very briefly went back to Afghanistan, but they seemed happy to let me go. I was asked to sign some papers, which I made a half hearted attempt to read. I was free to go. I was down the stairs, past baggage reclaim and as I was just about to leave the tall gentleman came running after me.

“Excuse me! Sorry to delay you again. We forgot to return you phone.”

I had to sit for another ten to fifteen minuets. A short wait, but then I was out. Out and on my way to home sweet home.

Certainly, travel is taste of punishment!

Especially these days.

Comments

[Fatima Barkatulla]

That was very interesting ma sha Allah. Whenever I hear stories of people being convinced to take their shahadahs it always ignites in me the desire to try and convince people to accept Islam. At the moment I have 3 or four people who I'm in regular contact with and am able to do regular da'wah with and am steadily doing so insha Allah...but I wish I knew the formula to get them to the point I want them to be at...I suppose I must accept that it is Allah who will determine the result and their is no infallible formula to da'wah. I have watched and listened to many du'aat (yourself, Khalid Yasin, the other da'wah in the park people, Shabbir Ali etc.) and tried to adopt the strategies I've seen you use. But I'm a bit stuck on da'wah to Jewish people. I have a Jewish Rabbi (female from the reform side of things) who I get on with well and is becoming a friend of mine. We've met a few times...she was involved in interfaith and wanted to talk to Muslim Women...I happened to be around that day in the Mosque and spoke to her about the Prophet Abraham (alaihis salam) and his wife Hagar and how the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was a direct descendent of Ismail. About our love and reverence for all of the Prophets. She said she found our love for the Prophets very moving. (Probably cos she thinks of them as Jewish Prophets.) I mentioned to her about our position with regard to the books of the past and about how they had been changed and so Allah sent the Qur'an. She agreed that the Old Testament was not the literal word of God. And said that she feels we all have glimmers of the truth and it would be very dishonest to say that any of us had THE truth!!(??) I said but God would guide us and not just leave us without guidance. And we invited her back for a Hajj talk I was going to give at the Mosque to a small group of sisters. It was about the story behind Hajj. She came back with two other Jewish ladies. I bought Kosher cakes for them as gifts and gave them to them. They seemed pleased and surprised. What I found surprising was that when I talked about the word 'Islam' and 'submission to God' and said that Ibrahim, Moses and all of the Prophets submitted to God and were therefore Muslims...she was sort of nodding in agreement and was surprised at finding out the meaning of the words Islam and Muslim, and agreed that by that definition the Prophets were Muslim. She doesn't believe that the Jews have a monopoly on God's guidance, because I posed the question to her...'do you believe that God sent Prophets to different nations at different times, to non-Jews as well?' She said yes.
She recently told me that she has had to leave the synagogue and is unemployed!!! (Sounds like problems at the synagogue.) She is not friendly with everyone there I feel. I said I wanted to be friends with her not because she is a Rabbi but because I like her...she is a very likeable person. She said she would like to be my friend too. Now where do I go from here? The fact that she is a Rabbi intimidates me a little...because I haven't been able to find books like 'Muslim Christian dialogue' for da'wah with Jews...do I meet up with her for coffee and then talk to her about Jesus (alaihis salaam) because after all they have to accept him to become Muslims or do I just go straight up and talk more about Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Please give me some good things to say to Jews of this kind. She told me the reform Jewish movement is non orthodox, have more rights for women, no segregation of the sexes, care more about the Palestinians rights etc. I don't really know where to go from here....

ARG comment:
In my opinion you should get her read the Quran and a life history of the Prophet Mohammed. Once she read these she will know without doubt that it is from Allah, and that Mohammed is the Messenger. Then its really about letting her know that if she wants to chage you'll be there to support her in that.
The rest is really up to her. In the end she has to make the descision. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
I never like to think of myself as trying to convert people. Our task it to lead them to the truth, even encourage them, and make it easy for them to accept. We can even spend zakat money on non Muslims to soften their hearts and make it easier for them to accept Islam, but in the end Allah guides whom He wants. Sometimes there is nothing more that you can do, and even trying to do more can drive some people further away. So it important to understand that. It certainly can be hard to find a balance between being too pushy and not being encouraging enough even for experienced diaees.

[Fatima Barkatulla]

That sounds like a good move. Jazakallahu Khairan. Yes, you're right about being pushy and trying to 'convert' people and how it is hard to strike the balance. I think if we are sincere in wanting good for them and not just being patronising and fake it will come across, and there is a lot to be said for just showing good character as well. You hit the nail on the head with the 'balance between being too pushy and not being encouraging enough.' I often feel I am not being encouraging enough because I don't get the time to meet up with these people much, so when I do meet them, I want to give them something that is as effective as possible...also, when you meet someone for a bit at a time...you and they can forget the point at which you were and I feel I miss out certain things which were important to cover to complete the picture.
We have something precious that we want to share with everyone and we want good for all people...if we really believe that I think it comes through in the da'wah. By the way...which Qur'an translation do you feel is the best for giving to people. I try to avoid the ones that say 'Do not take the Jews and Christians as friends' as I feel that that is always misunderstood by those who read it. Please suggest the best Seerah and best translation of the Qur'an to give to non-Muslims.

ARG comment:
Yes, but I'm not sure which translation words it differently. I'm quite a fan of the revised Yusuph Ali, if you can get it.
As for Seerah, despite some serious problems it has to be Martin Lings for sheer readability.

[Fatima Barkatulla]

I've got two Yusuf Ali ones...do you mean the one which is really thick and heavy, navy blue hardback cover, revised with commentary? Because I've got a new Yusuf Ali one which is a basic translation in paperback without any commentary.

ARG comment:
either of them, but the massive one might seem too daunting, or on the other hand it might seem impressive! As long as you make it clear that most of the text are footnotes, and that the main text is not that huge. Also the footnotes can in fact be very helpful.

[a.i.]

For anyone who was interested in your lectures in Winnipeg, there available to download at http://www.miaonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=69&Itemid=90
Jazakallah for comming again.

[Nabeel]

Are there any concise books of sira you would recommend?

ARG comment: hat depends on who its for, but I suggest Ar Raheeq al Makhtum, the sealed Nectar by Sariur Rahman Al Mubarakpuri

[Fatima Barkatulla]

Problem with Martin Lings Seerah....doesn't it say that the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam destroyed all the idols in the Ka'bah except one of Jesus and Mary alaihimas salaam?? Which is totally untrue, and from a monotheist Jewish perspective (seeing as I want to give the book to a Jewish Rabbi, wouldn't that make you doubt Muhammad sallallahu alihi wa sallam somewhat as he didn't destroy all of the idols according to Lings biography? Ar Raheequl Makhtoom is very accurate and thorough Masha Allah but because it has been translated from Arabic...it isn't in a beautiful style of English, which the seerah should be in. I do wish there was an authentic but well written seerah available. Maybe it's time someone wrote another seerah...

ARG comment: Yes! And he refers to the belief that Ibrahim sacraficed Ismeal (as opposed to Isaac) as an arab tradition, and other matters. I crossed out the offending lines when I gave the book to my Dad. But I recon that people reading this biography will not notice such details, and even they do, thay can be explained inshallah.

[Fatima Barkatulla]

By the way. Have your parents embraced Islam? May Allah guide them and us.

[MargeryBeasley29]

Lots of specialists claim that loan aid a lot of people to live their own way, because they are able to feel free to buy necessary things. Moreover, some banks give short term loan for different persons.

ARGcomment: There is a principle in Islam and that if greater and lesser evil. Everything contains some harm and some benefit. There may some benefit in bank loans etc..but the harm if far greater. There are other ways to help finance people without exploiting them, for example profit sharing!